Showoff
And just how long have you been waiting to say that? Haha
Could I also enquire! 'DIC'?
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Great Western Electrification Progress
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Showoff
And just how long have you been waiting to say that? Haha
Could I also enquire! 'DIC'?
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kevin_roche
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The Diploma of the Imperial College (DIC) is an academic certificate awarded by Imperial College London to its postgraduate students upon graduation.
reddragon
Established Member
Ode to a country where Engineers can be ridiculed by stupid people.Showoff
And just how long have you been waiting to say that? Haha
Could I also enquire! 'DIC'?
How else do you think railways are designed, built & maintained?
ArchieWoodbine
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Steady now, I’m pretty sure those comments were toungue-in-cheek.
reddragon
Established Member
Maybe, but do sexist or racist jibes have that acceptability?
superkev
Established Member
I wonder how the GW dreadnought class overhead faired in the current heatwave compared with ECML, MML etc which aren't doing too well.
K
K
Touch wood no issues reported so far.
Steve Tasker
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Goring to Paddington yesterday and return both on time .
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Good question/point. This heatwave might have helped justify the over-engineered* electrification. Good timing as it is just when a new transport minister takes over
.*=I am not being too negative regarding the term 'over-engineered' as it is what the Victorians seemed to do and is, apparently, why a lot of old railway infrastructure is still standing today..
Siemens Staines
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I am not in a position to judge one way or the other but there are suggestions elsewhere that a contributory factor to some of yesterdays problems was a lack of maintenance to the OLE tension weights/pulleys. If, and I stress if, this was the case then the GWR system is probably still too new for tensioning wheels to seize up. Does anyone know if there were OLE failures in the other areas with new equipment (e.g North West)
The new GWR electrification doesn't use pulley /weights but spring tensioning (like a giant tape measure return spring).
Recent upgrades /installations such as the GEML west of Shenfield /Goblin have all used spring tensioning to prevent these kind of issues and more.
Manufacturer video:
Siemens Staines
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Thank you for that information and link. Very instructive.
MML will also be getting those to up the tension south of Bedford to allow 125mph running.
A very simple upgrade to OHLE performance and reliability.
superkev
Established Member
Yes I always wondered how the new fangled spring Tensorex would fair in 20 years time compared with cheap and simple weights with adequate travel. One-nil to them at the moment then.
K
Have been going ok for the first 15 years they have been available.
They are "fit and forget" (zero maintenance) and pretty simple: the wire is attached to a variable radius cam which is bolted to the outer end of a coil spring with the centre of the spring attached to the mast with the spring contained in cover.
59CosG95
Established Member
I assume that the catenary & contact will be independently tensioned, then? GW is tensioned at 12kN/15kN (for catenary & contact respectively), while most of the Mk3-era OLE is tensioned at 11kN/11kN, using equalising plates. It's certainly the case on the ECML!
swt_passenger
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U
As an additional discussion point, the Tensorex method means that terminations can normally occur above and inline with the track, rather than having to be run off to the side (where the typical balance weight system is fitted to the masts), so that must be a great advantage especially on four track sections.
There are visibly separate pairs of Tensorex units mounted in line vertically above each track on the GW installation. It’s a big part of the reason why the end points of wire runs look so complex.
As an additional discussion point, the Tensorex method means that terminations can normally occur above and inline with the track, rather than having to be run off to the side (where the typical balance weight system is fitted to the masts), so that must be a great advantage especially on four track sections.
59CosG95
Established Member
Indeed! I do wonder if the Tensorex portals will be fitted to the MML in place of the current double overlaps with the headspans - bearing in mind that tail wires need to be used for the inner tracks...
And tail wire massively increase the length of cable to be tensioned potentially creating more issues in hot weather...
59CosG95
Established Member
That thought hadn't even occurred to me! Little wonder, then, that the ECML's wiring suffered so much worse than the MML's.
Linda smith
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Been a lot of progress in the Newport area today, with almost all of the lines through to hillfield tunnel west of Newport station in the process of being wired today. Picture or two to follow
Linda smith
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No, because they're sexist or racist, not a bit of good-natured leg-pulling regarding an impressive qualification.
But you already knew that. I hope.
Jurassicjewel
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Extract from Steventon Parish Council monthly update :
"The Parish Council met on Tuesday July 2nd with 7 Councillors and a large number of members of the public being present. Apologies had been received from Matthew Barber, Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) Councillor, Mike Fox-Davies Oxfordshire County Council Councillor and Carole Denton, Parish Councillor.
Network Rail representatives presented an update on Steventon Grade II listed Railway Bridge during Public Participation. They explained that they are currently using new modelling techniques to establish maximum train speeds through Steventon without need to demolish and replace the Railway Bridge.
The Class 800 Intercity Express Train (IET) electro-diesel hybrid train (bi-mode) currently running through Steventon are predicted to be capable of running at 110mph in electric mode that is deemed acceptable to Network Rail.
They are awaiting results for predicted speeds for the Class 387, solely electric trains, they intend to use in order to deliver the London to Cardiff service. A speed in excess of 95mph through Steventon will be deemed acceptable.
Network Rail at the meeting stated that there is an 80% probability that the bridge will not need to be demolished. We await the results of the modelling with some optimism".
There is of course a 20% chance the modelling wont work out!, I assume a 15mph drop in speed eastbound( I think it is 125mph both ways) wont be a major issue, westbound stoppers at Didcot probably wont get to 110 by Steventon anyway , I guess it wont have a major effect on the new December timetable if it is in effect by then. Lets see what happens.
"The Parish Council met on Tuesday July 2nd with 7 Councillors and a large number of members of the public being present. Apologies had been received from Matthew Barber, Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) Councillor, Mike Fox-Davies Oxfordshire County Council Councillor and Carole Denton, Parish Councillor.
Network Rail representatives presented an update on Steventon Grade II listed Railway Bridge during Public Participation. They explained that they are currently using new modelling techniques to establish maximum train speeds through Steventon without need to demolish and replace the Railway Bridge.
The Class 800 Intercity Express Train (IET) electro-diesel hybrid train (bi-mode) currently running through Steventon are predicted to be capable of running at 110mph in electric mode that is deemed acceptable to Network Rail.
They are awaiting results for predicted speeds for the Class 387, solely electric trains, they intend to use in order to deliver the London to Cardiff service. A speed in excess of 95mph through Steventon will be deemed acceptable.
Network Rail at the meeting stated that there is an 80% probability that the bridge will not need to be demolished. We await the results of the modelling with some optimism".
There is of course a 20% chance the modelling wont work out!, I assume a 15mph drop in speed eastbound( I think it is 125mph both ways) wont be a major issue, westbound stoppers at Didcot probably wont get to 110 by Steventon anyway , I guess it wont have a major effect on the new December timetable if it is in effect by then. Lets see what happens.
Phil from Mon
Member
Great photos. Thanks Linda.
Linda smith
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After the weekends work I the newport area, it has to be noted that they DID NOT finish the wiring..there ae still sections of both ATF & contact wire, plus earth & return cables to install before this section of the south Wales line goes live in September. Hopefully this will be addressed during the next planned Newport blockade & during overnight works.
Mintona
Established Member
Plenty of work taking place by Llanwern and East Usk Yard overnight. Relief lines all the way with 1C36.
Linda smith
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I noticed this evening that more ATF & contact wires have been installed through to the east usk yard. They are evidently pushing now, as network rail have announced a completion date for the newpor section & the energizing of the line in around 6 weeks time
59CosG95
Established Member
This really is a welcome bulletin. The western limit of the aforementioned route is at St. Brides ATFS, located just to the east of Green Lane (Heol Las) O/B to the west of Newport. A Google Map scan shows the location of the feeder station & Neutral Section as being here:
Tidy darts!
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